Tommy Lee | Biography and Filmography | 1962 Developed his own clothing line of jeans and T-shirts with apparel manufacturer People's Liberation 2005 Lee and his former band mates launched their "The Red White & Crue Tour 2005: Better Live Than Dead" 2004 Participated in the CBS reality series "Rock Star Supernova" alongside Dave Navarro 2004 Reunited with Motley Crew to release "Red, White & Crew" a double disc album of the bands biggest hits 2004 Lee released his autobiography "Tommyland" 2004 Starred in his own reality series "Tommy Goes to College" (NBC) 1999 Released first solo album "Methods of Mayhem" with the musical contributions of Snoop Dogg and Kid Rock 1998 Served six month’s in prison after pleading no contest to abusing then wife Pamela Anderson; while in prison Lee decided to quit Motley Crue 1996 Co-starred with then wife, Pamela Anderson in a presumably private porn video; despite the couples efforts the video was widely released after being stolen from their home by a construction worker, igniting a new

 genre of homemade celebrity porn 1989 "Dr.

Feelgood" was allegedly the group’s first album made without the influence of drugs or alcohol 1983 Released Motley Crue’s first big label album "Shout at the Devil" under the label Electra; went platinum 1981 Motley Crue released their debut album "Too Fast For Love" under their independent label Leathur Records 1980 Tommyland: Tommy Lee, Anthony Bozza: 9781416502029: Amazon.com: Books By Fay Grim on September 16, 2014 Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase Just like Vince Neil's book, this one shows who/how Tommy Lee is, so it's a good book. Many of the stories are already in Dirt, but still it has a lot of Tommy's side of story, too. It's ridiculous that he gave his "dick" a personality and talk, but that's probably how Tommy is. I gave 3 stars because even this book depicts how Tommy is very well, I wasn't as entertained as when I read Vince Neil's bio autography.

BTW, it really shows Tommy and Vince no longer have anything in common, and they don't like each other (as of when these books written). That's kinda sad as a crue fun, but everybody experiences that BFF grown apart later in life.... By Erin S. on July 14, 2016 Format: Paperback|Verified Purchase I finally got the chance to start reading this book and the print is HORRIBLE. Half of the pages have the words printed on top of each other, so it looks almost like it is 3-D. It is very hard to read and plays tricks on my eyes...started giving me a headache after the first page! Unfortunately, I stuck it on the shelf as soon as I got it so it's past the return date...now I know better to check books in the future to make sure the print is at least readable. Waste of money...

By Sid77 on November 16, 2012 Format: Paperback|Verified Purchase This book Tommyland by T Bone Lee Motley Crue's drummer Tommy Lee was down to earth.I enjoyed reading all of it How his father always encouraged tommy in whatever T Lee was into and going to get into the advice tommy recieved the one about Heather Locklear Don't mess this up and the one where his father tells T Lee don't get a girl pregnant just hit home with me cause that's what my dad told me and if you do don't come home all that stuck with me for a long time. T Lee says that at the time he didnt have the tools to deal with his anger problems but i was kind of wondering where did he get those anger issues?

His upbringing didnt fuel those issues as far as his party days goes i was looking for more stories from him and his band mates now i finished reading this book about a month ago and i cant remember much of it that it was heartwarming like when he visited his high school music teacher and the time spent with the passing of his father and his incarseration behind bars all of that was well told very true and honest This book was made for T Lee and Tommy Lee shines all the way thru it and in it Good reading for all fans and fans alike Best wishes for you and yours T Bone T Lee Tommyland by Tommy Lee, Paperback | Barnes & Noble® Meet the author Overview Now in paperback, the New York Times bestseller in which rock and roll's most notorious bad boy bares it all—and boy is there a lot to bare! I am Tommy Lee, born Thomas Lee Bass in Athens, Greece, on October 3, 1962, and raised in a suburb of California by an American father and a Greek mother. At seventeen, I joined Mötley Crüe and we became one of the baddest-ass rock bands in history.

We sold over 40 million albums, we wreaked havoc, we scared parents, and we titillated too many fathers' daughters. I've been married three times: once for just a few days to a Penthouse Pet, for seven years to Heather Locklear, and then for five years to Pamela Anderson, with whom I have two beautiful sons. I've gotten into a lot of fights and I've been to jail a few times. But this book isn't your typical journey in a straight line from day one to day now. I'm more interested in revealing what's most important about my life, like how I cook my steaks; what I think of the tabloids, the truth, my ex-wives, my ex-band, my music; and what an innocent observer might find hanging around my house any given Sunday. You'll get plenty of facts and I'll tell you a story, but my real mission here is to paint you a picture of my life. I want to show you how my memories smell. I'd like to get into it now, so please take your seats. I advise you to keep your arms and legs inside the car at all times.

If you have a pacemaker, a heart condition, or if you are pregnant or too damn short to reach the safety bar, I ask that you turn back immediately. Those with weak stomachs, strict morals, or chronic indigestion should put the book down now. For the rest of you, there's one truth that's real across the board: What you send out is what you get back. Send out the good, people, and it will come back to you. There's another thing I've learned over the years, in court, in fights, and in arguments with people I love: There isn't one truth, there are many. This book is my truth. Advertising Read an Excerpt Chapter One: The State of the Union Address a.k.a. Chapter Juan Hi there, my name is Tommy Lee, and there's a couple of things you should know about me right away: I don't like to do the easy thing and I don't believe that there's ever just one way to do anything. If people tell you no or assure you that you only have one option in any situation, trust me, they're lying. There are many doors to your destiny, people. Please believe it.

Anyone who knows me won't be surprised that this book isn't a typical journey in a straight line from day one to day now. I can't really do that because I'm really not into history. I'm going to rail on my high school history class in a few minutes. Right now, though, you have to know that I'm more interested in revealing what's most important about my life, like how I cook my steaks; what I think of the tabloids, the truth, my ex-wives, my ex-band, my music; and what an innocent observer might find hanging around my house on any given Sunday. You'll see, just sit back - you'll get plenty of facts and I'll tell you my story, but my real mission is that I want you to know how my memories smell. I don't like to leave anyone out of my party - and sometimes that's a problem - but in this situation, I'm going to tell all of you fact-and-figure-loving readers where to find what may be missing here: Head into cyberspace.

I suggest starting with Google and I'll tell you what you'll discover there if you type in my name: lots of pictures, porno sites, links to shitty tabloid talk shows - what I call my Untrue Hollywood Stories - crazy fan sites (you guys rule!), plus a recurring Tommy Lee Jones theme. Somehow it's true, but I don't mind because I've been getting awesome fan mail about the kick-ass roles I've played in films like Men in Black for years now. It's crazy because, to tell the truth, I didn't even know I could act well enough to carry a feature. If no one minds, I'd like to take a moment to send a message to Mr. Lee Jones if he's reading. Mr. Lee Jones, Sir, I'm sorry if any unusual mail intended for me, Tommy Lee, has arrived at your house. I've received plenty of it over the years, so I know what my fans are capable of. Again, my apologies, and if any of the packages included amazing Polaroids that you've grown fond of, please keep them for your trouble. And good luck to you, sir! T. Lee Readers, would you like to know why I've named this ride Tommyland?

The word means many things to me: It is the name of my studio, my home, my hard drive, and the place where my nerves and pleasure centers freak each other inside my skull. Tommyland is where my boys were born, it's a playland that my ex-wife Pamela Anderson built for my thirty-third birthday, it is where I lose myself most days making records, having sex, and sleeping. It's the only word I've found to describe what makes me up and what makes up my state of mind. All right, it's time to start the ride now, so please take your seats. I advise you to keep your arms and legs inside the car at all times. If you have a pacemaker, a heart condition, or if you are pregnant or too damn short to reach the safety bar, I ask that you turn back immediately. Same goes for those with weak stomachs, strict morals, or chronic indigestion. In fact, you people might want to just put this book down now and slowly back away or return it to your local bookstore. I hope those who remain enjoy their tour through Tommyland.

If all goes according to plan, expect that you'll leave with side effects including pure fear, a perma-grin that requires corrective surgery, and a true whiff of me. Consumption of Tommyland may create the urge to get all "woo-hoo" with your friends. Be warned, Tommyland may cause involuntary tears and infrequent vomiting, because Tommyland is a loop-de-loop corkscrew brain masher that Six Flags wished it had. I am Tommy Lee, born Thomas Lee Bass in Athens, Greece, on October 3, 1962, and raised in a California suburb by an American father and a Greek mother. At seventeen, I joined Mötley Crüe and we became one of the baddest-ass rock bands in history. We sold more than forty million albums, we wreaked havoc, we scared parents, and we titillated too many fathers' daughters. We drank oceans of liquor, snorted and shot mountains of drugs, crashed cars, watched people die, and watched one another fight, make up, break up, reunite, and break up again.

I've been married three times: once for just a few weeks to a Penthouse centerfold, once for seven years to Heather Locklear, and once for five years to Pamela Anderson, with whom I have two beautiful sons. I've gotten in a lot of fights and I've been to jail a few times, the longest for four months, in 1998, after pleading no contest to spousal abuse. In 2001, a beautiful young boy named Daniel tragically drowned in my pool during my son Brandon's birthday party. If you've watched Entertainment Tonight in the last ten years or glanced at the "newspapers" on the racks by the supermarket checkout line, you have an idea of what has happened in my life. If you believe those stories, that's fine. If you believe that there is no more to me than what they say, that's fine too. That kind of "entertainment" is the status quo today. I don't even know anymore if that's what the public craves or if it's just a brand of societal therapy. Do people really feel better watching strangers feel bad? Or is it watching famous people feel bad? Whatever.

Just remember that information is like clay: It's easy to get and those with a good hand can bend it into whatever shape they want to. Believe me - I've seen statues of myself I don't even recognize. Listen, I'm not complaining, I'm just fascinated by this shit. I don't know if you all can relate, but it's weird, it's interesting, and it's fucking frustrating to watch your life become a play that, for the most part, you're not even in. After years of fighting the shit, and winning and losing all kinds of battles, I've learned one thing: I see the cult of celebrity as a test. You might follow your dream to make art, but it comes with a price. I think what you do, how you act, and who you are after you've made it is the test of your mettle. I'm not going to get all spiritual guy on you - the books I've read and the religions I've learned from are my business. I'll list them later if you care to check them out, but I'm not going door-to-door with this shit. What works for one person sure as hell might not work for anyone else.

But there's one truth that's real across the board: What you send out is what you get back. Send out the good, people, and it will come back to you. There's another thing I've learned over the years: In court, in fights, and in arguments with people I love, there isn't one truth, there are many. This book is my truth. Actually, I've got one more tenet to add to my state-of-the-union address. It's a saying I found in an unlikely place: on a refrigerator magnet that I don't even remember buying. What matters is what it says and where I've placed it. It's in the heart of Tommyland, in my studio, behind the bar, stuck to my Jägermeister machine, and it says it all: We do not stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing. Copyright © 2004 by Methods of Mayhem, Inc. r 1000+ images about Tommy lee motley crue on Pinterest | Tommy lee, Nikki sixx and Mick mars A Photo I took of Tommy Lee of Motley Crue on the Carnival of Sins Tour in Chicago IL 2005.

Give me a Hell YEAH!! \m/\m/ — with #TommyLee and #MotleyCrue See More Mötley Crüe | Biography & History | AllMusic google+ Artist Biography by David Jeffries Mötley Crüe were undeniably one of the most popular hard rock/pop-metal acts of the 1980s. Combining the theatrics and glam of Kiss with the hard power pop hooks of Cheap Trick , the Crüe out-partied, out-rocked, and outsold most of their competition. The band even managed to hit the pop chart with frequency with hits like "Dr. Feelgood" and "Without You." The combination of larger-than-life personalities that made up the L.A. band was too volatile to remain stable; singer Vince Neil and drummer Tommy Lee would drift in and out of the band from the '90s onward, but exposure from VH1's Behind the Music series and a tell-all autobiography kept the public's appetite for the Crüe whetted into the 21st century.

In the new millennium the Crüe established themselves as a fashionable touring act (with Crüe Fest becoming the summer's highest-grossing festival in 2008) while continuing to release new material. Formed in January 1981, Mötley Crüe were originally the pet project of bassist Nikki Sixx (born Frank Ferrana), vocalist/guitarist Greg Leon , and drummer Tommy Lee (born Thomas Lee Bass). Leon was a veteran of the Hollywood scene, having replaced Randy Rhoads in Quiet Riot two years prior. He butted heads with the strong-willed Sixx , however, resulting in his departure from the lineup several months later. Local guitarist Bob "Mick Mars" Deal joined in his place, bringing the moniker "Mottley Krue" with him. After altering the name and adding a pair of umlauts (allegedly in tribute to German beer), the trio began efforts to recruit Vincent Neil Wharton , vocalist for the L.A.-based band Rock Candy . Neil initially refused the advances, only joining the band after his Rock Candy cohorts announced their decision to transform their group into a new wave act.

With Neil now on board, Mötley Crüe became a cult favorite on the L.A. circuit, infamously known for such theatrics as setting Sixx 's pants on fire midsong. The band soon secured management with Allan Coffman, who financed recording sessions for a debut album. Initially released in November 1981 by Lethur Records -- a small, independent label launched by Coffman and the band -- Too Fast for Love sold a surprising 20,000 copies. It also prompted a Canadian tour, where the musicians made headlines by wearing their spike-laden stage attire onto the plane, carrying suitcases of pornographic material through airport security, and fielding death threats from incensed fans in Edmonton. Such exposure only served to fuel Mötley Crüe 's sensationalist appeal, generating the sort of shocked press coverage that the band desired. Back at home, Elektra Records had become impressed by the band's popularity in local venues, prompting the label to sign Mötley Crüe before releasing a new, remastered version of Too Fast for Love .

Following the band's return to California, Elektra also released the sophomore effort Shout at the Devil in 1983. The video for "Looks That Kill" became an MTV hit, broadcasting the group's glammed-up theatrics to an audience unfamiliar with Mötley Crüe 's popularity on the club circuit, and the record went platinum as a result. Shout at the Devil sold an additional million copies in 1984, but the party was brought to a temporary standstill when Vince Neil crashed his car on December 8, killing passenger Nicholas "Razzle" Dingley of Hanoi Rocks . The other victims emerged with broken bones and brain damage, while a relatively unscathed Neil was found guilty of vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence. He was ultimately incarcerated for 15 days in 1986, in addition to performing community service and paying a large cash settlement.

By the time Neil was sentenced, however, the band's newest record, Theatre of Pain , had already enjoyed a lengthy stay on the charts, cementing the band's mainstream status and producing Mötley Crüe 's first Top 40 hit with a cover of Brownsville Station 's "Smokin' in the Boys' Room." Neil 's stint in jail was brief, and the band was free to continue its decadent reign. Under the management of Doug Thaler and Doc McGhee , the latter of whom also managed Bon Jovi , Mötley Crüe 's popularity expanded throughout the latter half of the '80s. "Home Sweet Home," a power ballad from Theatre of Pain , yielded another popular music video, while a 44-minute home video cassette entitled Uncensored was issued in 1986 to multi-platinum sales. Meanwhile, Lee married actress Heather Locklear, and the band returned to the studio to record a fourth album, Girls, Girls, Girls . Released during the band's substance-addled heyday in 1987, the album debuted at number two, with the raunchy title track becoming Mötley Crüe 's second Top 40 hit.

The group quickly embarked on a headlining tour, but the European dates were canceled when Sixx suffered a near-fatal heroin overdose. He was pronounced legally dead en route to the hospital, only to be revived by two shots of adrenaline to the heart. Upon returning home, Sixx immediately shot up once again. Shocked, Thaler and McGhee urged their clients to enter a drug rehabilitation program, and Mötley Crüe remained out of the spotlight while the bandmates cleaned up their act. They returned in 1989 -- clean and sober this time -- with the release of Dr. Feelgood , a muscled album that became Mötley Crüe 's first release to top the Billboard charts. Meanwhile, the title track became the band's first Top Ten hit, and a string of additional singles -- "Kickstart My Heart" (inspired by Sixx 's brush with death), "Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)," and "Without You" -- made Dr. Feelgood the most successful Crüe album to date.

After another worldwide tour, the compilation album Decade of Decadence arrived in 1991, propelled to multi-platinum status by a new version of "Home Sweet Home" that became the band's final Top 40 hit. After creating their own record label, Mötley Records, the bandmates signed a renewed contract with Elektra for $25 million. The music industry had begun to devote most of its attention to grunge music, however, and the pressure to keep pace with changing trends took its toll on the band's camaraderie. In 1992, sessions for Mötley Crüe 's next album turned ugly, leading to the dismissal (or departure, depending on the source) of Neil , who was replaced by the Scream 's John Corabi . The revised band issued Mötley Crüe in 1994, which peaked at number seven in the U.S. and eventually went gold. Such an attempt to embrace a new, grungier sound proved to be a commercial disappointment, however, as did the band's supporting tour.

Corabi was fired in 1997 at the label's behest, and Neil returned to the lineup for the release of Generation Swine . The subject of a heavy marketing campaign, Generation Swine debuted at number four, although it failed to generate any significant singles. Meanwhile, Corabi resurfaced alongside former Kiss guitarist Bruce Kulick in the group Union . Shortly after the release of Greatest Hits in 1998, Tommy Lee was arrested for spousal abuse against Pamela Anderson . He spent most of the year in jail, effectively killing any momentum generated by the gold-selling status of Greatest Hits and Generation Swine . Meanwhile, the group's contract with Elektra fell apart, prompting Mötley Records to switch its affiliation to the Beyond label. The band acquired the rights to its back catalog in the process. After numerous bitter encounters with Neil , Tommy Lee left the band in 1999 to form Methods of Mayhem , which released a self-titled debut album later that year.

He was replaced by former Ozzy Osbourne drummer Randy Castillo , and the revamped lineup celebrated its acquisition of the Crüe catalog by issuing remastered editions of every studio album, as well as the rarities collection Supersonic & the Demonic Relics . A collection of new material, New Tattoo , appeared in the summer of 2000 to a lukewarm reception, and Castillo became stricken with an undisclosed illness on the eve of the requisite tour. While he recuperated at home, the band temporarily enlisted Hole 's drummer (and lifelong Crüe fan), Samantha Maloney , to handle percussion duties. In May 2001, the band issued a best-selling, tell-all biography entitled The Dirt. During the downtime that followed its release, Neil launched a brief solo tour of U.S. clubs and Sixx wrote material for other artists, including Tantric , Meat Loaf , Faith Hill , Tim McGraw , and James Michael . Sadly, Castillo succumbed to cancer during the following spring, prompting the band to continue its hiatus. Although Sixx speculated publicly about the possibility of a reunion tour, Tommy Lee quickly rebutted such rumors, claiming that his relationship with Vince Neil was simply too poor for any sort of reconciliation.

Controversy surrounded the band again as former producer Tom Werman sued for unpaid royalties, Neil 's former wife Heidi Mark publicly accused him of physical abuse, and Neil was kicked off a nationally syndicated radio show for being too drunk to maintain an interview. Rumors of a reunion continued to swirl throughout the following two years, even as Mötley Crüe 's members remained loyal to their individual projects. Both Tommy Lee and Vince Neil participated in celebrity TV shows -- Lee as the focus of an NBC series that featured the drummer attending college classes, and Neil in the first season of The Surreal Life -- while Sixx toured and released an album with his new band, Brides of Destruction . In late 2004, however, the four original members announced a full-scale reunion tour for the following year, marking their first outing since the late '90s. The tour coincided with the February release of Mötley Crüe 's double-disc greatest-hits collection, Red, White & Crüe , which went platinum within six months of its release.

The reunion tour was further celebrated by the release of a concert album, Carnival of Sins Live , in 2006, while a record of new material, Saints of Los Angeles , arrived in 2008. In keeping with their dedication to the road, the bandmates subsequently unveiled plans for Crüe Fest, a summer package tour that netted over $40 million during its inaugural year. After a second Crüe Fest in 2009, a world tour co-headlining with Kiss followed in 2012 and lasted through 2013. In 2014 the band announced a farewell tour with Alice Cooper as guest. The 70-date retirement tour coincided with the release of Nashville Outlaws , a Crüe tribute album featuring country artists like Rascal Flatts , the Mavericks , and Big & Rich .

M�tley Cr�e (Music) - TV Tropes Years gone by, I'd say we've kicked some ass When I'm enraged or hittin' the stage Adrenaline rushing through my veins And I say, we're still kickin' ass So ooh-ahh, kickstart my heart, hope it never stops And to think we did all of this to rock" — "Kickstart My Heart" M ö tley Cr ü e was a Hard Rock / Hair Metal band formed in and popular in The '80s by drummer Tommy Lee and bassist Nikki Sixx, joined by guitarist Mick Mars and lastly by singer Vince Neil. Like most of their contemporaries from the Glam era, they were probably more well known for their sleazy, sordid antics than their music: during their first tour in Canada they were banned from Edmonton for carrying "dangerous weapons" (their stage spikes) and "indecent material" (Neil's porn) though customs, got accused of a bomb threat and threw a TV out the window of their hotel (all publicity stunts).

They rose to international fame on the release of Shout At The Devil, Theater of Pain and Girls, Girls, Girls, receiving heavy rotation on MTV and selling millions of copies. Sixx has overdosed on heroin over a dozen times, three times near-fatal (the first of these in which he was declared dead for a minute , inspired the song "Kickstart My Heart"). In 1989, in light of Sixx's near-fatal overdose—at the plea of their managers—the band cancelled their tour of Europe and went into rehab (except for Mars, who cleaned up on his own). Finding sobriety and quitting drugs, the band recorded their highly successful Dr. Feelgood, getting a Grammy nomination for "Kickstart My Heart" and the title track. The band's popularity declined in the wake of the 90's and the Grunge movement like it did for all bands of their kind. Neil quit/was fired (he maintains he was fired, Lee says he quit) from the band in 1992, being replaced by John Corabi, who would record their 1994 Self-Titled Album .

They reunited in 1997 to record Generation Swine, receiving lackluster sales in part thanks to bad support from their label, Elektra Records , ultimately prompting the band to form their own label, Mötley records (this made them one of the few bands at the time to have total control over their own publishing, recording and back catalog). In 1999, Lee left to pursue a solo career. His replacement, Randy Castillo recorded New Tattoo with the band before dying of cancer while on tour, and with no replacement set, they went into hiatus. During this time, they released an autobiography, The Dirt, Lee started the Nu Metal band Methods of Mayhem and married Pamela Anderson (divorced and re-married multiple times), Neil toured as an on-and-off solo artist, Sixx played in several other bands and Mars became a recluse due to his inflammatory spinal arthritis note Ankylosing Spondylitis for the curious. Since 2005, the band announced their reunion tour, has co-headlining with Aerosmith in 2006 (a true irony , see below), and has run a small circuit in Europe.

The group released their return-to-form album Saints of Los Angeles in 2008, for which they received a Grammy nomination for the title track. They started their personal summer tour Crüe Fest with Buckcherry, Papa Roach, Trapt and Sixx:A.M. (Sixx's side-project) opening, becoming the most successful festival of the summer. Crüe Fest 2 featured Theory of a Deadman, Drowning Pool , Charm City Devils and Godsmack (Godsmack singer Sully Erna appeared in the Crüe video for "White Trash Circus"). Although there are plans to turn their 2001 autobiography The Dirt into a feature film, the project has been stuck in Development Hell for several years. However, in November 2013 it was announced that Jeff Tremaine (of Jackass fame) has signed on to direct a film adaptation of The Dirt, with plans to start shooting in June 2014. In March of 2013, Sixx has stated that the band will break up past their final album and farewell tour, as to end their career on a high note (going so far as to sign a legally binding contract preventing them from ever touring again).

Dates were announced in January of 2014, with Alice Cooper opening. They played their final show on December 31st 2015. Not to be confused with that other kind of motley crew .

People that were in the band over the years.(Founding members in bold) Randy Castillo - drums, percussion (1999-2002, died 2002) John Corabi - lead vocals, guitar, bass, piano (1992-1996) Robert Alan Deal (Mick Mars) - guitar, vocals, bass, sitar, mandolin (1981-2015) Frank Carlton Serafino Feranna (Nikki Sixx) - bass, backing and lead vocals, synthesizer, keyboard, piano (1981-2015) Thomas Lee Bass (Tommy Lee) - drums, percussion, piano, backing and lead vocals, synthesizer (1981-1999, 2004-2015) Mötley Crüe — Listen for free on Spotify Mötley Crüe Play on Spotify Mötley Crüe were undeniably one of the most popular hard rock/pop-metal acts of the 1980s.

Combining the theatrics and glam of Kiss with the hard power pop hooks of Cheap Trick , the Crüe out-partied, out-rocked, and outsold most of their competition. The band even managed to hit the pop chart with frequency with hits like "Dr. Feelgood" and "Without You." The combination of larger-than-life personalities that made up the L.A. band was too volatile to remain stable; singer Vince Neil and drummer Tommy Lee would drift in and out of the band from the '90s onward, but exposure from VH1's Behind the Music series and a tell-all autobiography kept the public's appetite for the Crüe whetted into the 21st century. In the new millennium the Crüe established themselves as a fashionable touring act (with Crüe Fest becoming the summer's highest-grossing festival in 2008) while continuing to release new material. Formed in January 1981, Mötley Crüe were originally the pet project of bassist Nikki Sixx (born Frank Ferrana), vocalist/guitarist Greg Leon, and drummer Tommy Lee (born Thomas Lee Bass).

Leon was a veteran of the Hollywood scene, having replaced Randy Rhoads in Quiet Riot two years prior. He butted heads with the strong-willed Sixx, however, resulting in his departure from the lineup several months later. Local guitarist Bob "Mick Mars" Deal joined in his place, bringing the moniker "Mottley Krue" with him. After altering the name and adding a pair of umlauts (allegedly in tribute to German beer), the trio began efforts to recruit Vincent Neil Wharton , vocalist for the L.A.-based band Rock Candy. Neil initially refused the advances, only joining the band after his Rock Candy cohorts announced their decision to transform their group into a new wave act. With Neil now on board, Mötley Crüe became a cult favorite on the L.A. circuit, infamously known for such theatrics as setting Sixx's pants on fire midsong. The band soon secured management with Allan Coffman, who financed recording sessions for a debut album. Initially released in November 1981 by Lethur Records -- a small, independent label launched by Coffman and the band -- Too Fast for Love sold a surprising 20,000 copies.

It also prompted a Canadian tour, where the musicians made headlines by wearing their spike-laden stage attire onto the plane, carrying suitcases of pornographic material through airport security, and fielding death threats from incensed fans in Edmonton. Such exposure only served to fuel Mötley Crüe's sensationalist appeal, generating the sort of shocked press coverage that the band desired. Back at home, Elektra Records had become impressed by the band's popularity in local venues, prompting the label to sign Mötley Crüe before releasing a new, remastered version of Too Fast for Love. Following the band's return to California, Elektra also released the sophomore effort Shout at the Devil in 1983. The video for "Looks That Kill" became an MTV hit, broadcasting the group's glammed-up theatrics to an audience unfamiliar with Mötley Crüe's popularity on the club circuit, and the record went platinum as a result. Shout at the Devil sold an additional million copies in 1984, but the party was brought to a temporary standstill when Vince Neil crashed his car on December 8, killing passenger Nicholas "Razzle" Dingley of Hanoi Rocks .

The other victims emerged with broken bones and brain damage, while a relatively unscathed Neil was found guilty of vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence. He was ultimately incarcerated for 15 days in 1986, in addition to performing community service and paying a large cash settlement. By the time Neil was sentenced, however, the band's newest record, Theatre of Pain, had already enjoyed a lengthy stay on the charts, cementing the band's mainstream status and producing Mötley Crüe's first Top 40 hit with a cover of Brownsville Station 's "Smokin' in the Boys' Room." Neil 's stint in jail was brief, and the band was free to continue its decadent reign. Under the management of Doug Thaler and Doc McGhee, the latter of whom also managed Bon Jovi , Mötley Crüe's popularity expanded throughout the latter half of the '80s. "Home Sweet Home," a power ballad from Theatre of Pain, yielded another popular music video, while a 44-minute home video cassette entitled Uncensored was issued in 1986 to multi-platinum sales.

Meanwhile, Lee married actress Heather Locklear, and the band returned to the studio to record a fourth album, Girls, Girls, Girls. Released during the band's substance-addled heyday in 1987, the album debuted at number two, with the raunchy title track becoming Mötley Crüe's second Top 40 hit. The group quickly embarked on a headlining tour, but the European dates were canceled when Sixx suffered a near-fatal heroin overdose. He was pronounced legally dead en route to the hospital, only to be revived by two shots of adrenaline to the heart. Upon returning home, Sixx immediately shot up once again. Shocked, Thaler and McGhee urged their clients to enter a drug rehabilitation program, and Mötley Crüe remained out of the spotlight while the bandmates cleaned up their act. They returned in 1989 -- clean and sober this time -- with the release of Dr. Feelgood, a muscled album that became Mötley Crüe's first release to top the Billboard charts.

Meanwhile, the title track became the band's first Top Ten hit, and a string of additional singles -- "Kickstart My Heart" (inspired by Sixx's brush with death), "Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)," and "Without You" -- made Dr. Feelgood the most successful Crüe album to date. After another worldwide tour, the compilation album Decade of Decadence arrived in 1991, propelled to multi-platinum status by a new version of "Home Sweet Home" that became the band's final Top 40 hit. After creating their own record label, Mötley Records , the bandmates signed a renewed contract with Elektra for $25 million. The music industry had begun to devote most of its attention to grunge music, however, and the pressure to keep pace with changing trends took its toll on the band's camaraderie. In 1992, sessions for Mötley Crüe's next album turned ugly, leading to the dismissal (or departure, depending on the source) of Neil , who was replaced by the Scream's John Corabi .

The revised band issued Mötley Crüe in 1994, which peaked at number seven in the U.S. and eventually went gold. Such an attempt to embrace a new, grungier sound proved to be a commercial disappointment, however, as did the band's supporting tour. Corabi was fired in 1997 at the label's behest, and Neil returned to the lineup for the release of Generation Swine. The subject of a heavy marketing campaign, Generation Swine debuted at number four, although it failed to generate any significant singles. Meanwhile, Corabi resurfaced alongside former Kiss guitarist Bruce Kulick in the group Union . Shortly after the release of Greatest Hits in 1998, Tommy Lee was arrested for spousal abuse against Pamela Anderson. He spent most of the year in jail, effectively killing any momentum generated by the gold-selling status of Greatest Hits and Generation Swine. Meanwhile, the group's contract with Elektra fell apart, prompting Mötley Records to switch its affiliation to the Beyond label. The band acquired the rights to its back catalog in the process.

After numerous bitter encounters with Neil , Tommy Lee left the band in 1999 to form Methods of Mayhem , which released a self-titled debut album later that year. He was replaced by former Ozzy Osbourne drummer Randy Castillo , and the revamped lineup celebrated its acquisition of the Crüe catalog by issuing remastered editions of every studio album, as well as the rarities collection Supersonic & the Demonic Relics. A collection of new material, New Tattoo, appeared in the summer of 2000 to a lukewarm reception, and Castillo became stricken with an undisclosed illness on the eve of the requisite tour. While he recuperated at home, the band temporarily enlisted Hole 's drummer (and lifelong Crüe fan), Samantha Maloney, to handle percussion duties. In May 2001, the band issued a best-selling, tell-all biography entitled The Dirt. During the downtime that followed its release, Neil launched a brief solo tour of U.S. clubs and Sixx wrote material for other artists, including Tantric , Meat Loaf , Faith Hill , Tim McGraw , and James Michael . Sadly, Castillo succumbed to cancer during the following spring, prompting the band to continue its hiatus.

Although Sixx speculated publicly about the possibility of a reunion tour, Tommy Lee quickly rebutted such rumors, claiming that his relationship with Vince Neil was simply too poor for any sort of reconciliation. Controversy surrounded the band again as former producer Tom Werman sued for unpaid royalties, Neil 's former wife Heidi Mark publicly accused him of physical abuse, and Neil was kicked off a nationally syndicated radio show for being too drunk to maintain an interview. Rumors of a reunion continued to swirl throughout the following two years, even as Mötley Crüe's members remained loyal to their individual projects. Both Tommy Lee and Vince Neil participated in celebrity TV shows -- Lee as the focus of an NBC series that featured the drummer attending college classes, and Neil in the first season of The Surreal Life -- while Sixx toured and released an album with his new band, Brides of Destruction . In late 2004, however, the four original members announced a full-scale reunion tour for the following year, marking their first outing since the late '90s.

The tour coincided with the February release of Mötley Crüe's double-disc greatest-hits collection, Red, White & Crüe, which went platinum within six months of its release. The reunion tour was further celebrated by the release of a concert album, Carnival of Sins Live, in 2006, while a record of new material, Saints of Los Angeles, arrived in 2008. In keeping with their dedication to the road, the bandmates subsequently unveiled plans for Crüe Fest, a summer package tour that netted over $40 million during its inaugural year. After a second Crüe Fest in 2009, a world tour co-headlining with Kiss followed in 2012 and lasted through 2013. In 2014 the band announced a farewell tour with Alice Cooper as guest. The 70-date retirement tour coincided with the release of Nashville Outlaws, a Crüe tribute album featuring country artists like Rascal Flatts , the Mavericks , and Big & Rich .

~ Andrew Leahey & Barry Weber, Rovi Read More Show less Mötley Crüe Bio | Mötley Crüe Career | MTV Hard Rock Mötley Crüe were undeniably one of the most popular hard rock/pop-metal acts of the 1980s. Combining the theatrics and glam of Kiss with the hard power pop hooks of Cheap Trick, the Crüe out-partied, out-rocked, and outsold most of their competition. The band even managed to hit the pop chart with frequency with hits like "Dr. Feelgood" and "Without You." The combination of larger-than-life personalities that made up the L.A. band was too volatile to remain stable; singer Vince Neil and drummer Tommy Lee would drift in and out of the band from the '90s onward, but exposure from VH1's Behind the Music series and a tell-all autobiography kept the public's appetite for the Crüe whetted into the 21st century. In the new millennium the Crüe established themselves as a fashionable touring act (with Crüe Fest becoming the summer's highest-grossing festival in 2008) while continuing to release new material.

Formed in January 1981, Mötley Crüe were originally the pet project of bassist Nikki Sixx (born Frank Ferrana), vocalist/guitarist Greg Leon, and drummer Tommy Lee (born Thomas Lee Bass). Leon was a veteran of the Hollywood scene, having replaced Randy Rhoads in Quiet Riot two years prior. He butted heads with the strong-willed Sixx, however, resulting in his departure from the lineup several months later. Local guitarist Bob "Mick Mars" Deal joined in his place, bringing the moniker "Mottley Krue" with him. After altering the name and adding a pair of umlauts (allegedly in tribute to German beer), the trio began efforts to recruit Vincent Neil Wharton, vocalist for the L.A.-based band Rock Candy. Neil initially refused the advances, only joining the band after his Rock Candy cohorts announced their decision to transform their group into a new wave act. With Neil now on board, Mötley Crüe became a cult favorite on the L.A. circuit, infamously known for such theatrics as setting Sixx's pants on fire midsong.

The band soon secured management with Allan Coffman, who financed recording sessions for a debut album. Initially released in November 1981 by Lethur Records -- a small, independent label launched by Coffman and the band -- Too Fast for Love sold a surprising 20,000 copies. It also prompted a Canadian tour, where the musicians made headlines by wearing their spike-laden stage attire onto the plane, carrying suitcases of pornographic material through airport security, and fielding death threats from incensed fans in Edmonton. Such exposure only served to fuel Mötley Crüe's sensationalist appeal, generating the sort of shocked press coverage that the band desired. Back at home, Elektra Records had become impressed by the band's popularity in local venues, prompting the label to sign Mötley Crüe before releasing a new, remastered version of Too Fast for Love. Following the band's return to California, Elektra also released the sophomore effort Shout at the Devil in 1983.

The video for "Looks That Kill" became an MTV hit, broadcasting the group's glammed-up theatrics to an audience unfamiliar with Mötley Crüe's popularity on the club circuit, and the record went platinum as a result. Shout at the Devil sold an additional million copies in 1984, but the party was brought to a temporary standstill when Vince Neil crashed his car on December 8, killing passenger Nicholas "Razzle" Dingley of Hanoi Rocks. The other victims emerged with broken bones and brain damage, while a relatively unscathed Neil was found guilty of vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence. He was ultimately incarcerated for 15 days in 1986, in addition to performing community service and paying a large cash settlement. By the time Neil was sentenced, however, the band's newest record, Theatre of Pain, had already enjoyed a lengthy stay on the charts, cementing the band's mainstream status and producing Mötley Crüe's first Top 40 hit with a cover of Brownsville Station's "Smokin' in the Boys' Room." Neil's stint in jail was brief, and the band was free to continue its decadent reign.

Under the management of Doug Thaler and Doc McGhee, the latter of whom also managed Bon Jovi, Mötley Crüe's popularity expanded throughout the latter half of the '80s. "Home Sweet Home," a power ballad from Theatre of Pain, yielded another popular music video, while a 44-minute home video cassette entitled Uncensored was issued in 1986 to multi-platinum sales. Meanwhile, Lee married actress Heather Locklear, and the band returned to the studio to record a fourth album, Girls, Girls, Girls. Released during the band's substance-addled heyday in 1987, the album debuted at number two, with the raunchy title track becoming Mötley Crüe's second Top 40 hit. The group quickly embarked on a headlining tour, but the European dates were canceled when Sixx suffered a near-fatal heroin overdose. He was pronounced legally dead en route to the hospital, only to be revived by two shots of adrenaline to the heart. Upon returning home, Sixx immediately shot up once again.

Shocked, Thaler and McGhee urged their clients to enter a drug rehabilitation program, and Mötley Crüe remained out of the spotlight while the bandmates cleaned up their act. They returned in 1989 -- clean and sober this time -- with the release of Dr. Feelgood, a muscled album that became Mötley Crüe's first release to top the Billboard charts. Meanwhile, the title track became the band's first Top Ten hit, and a string of additional singles -- "Kickstart My Heart" (inspired by Sixx's brush with death), "Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)," and "Without You" -- made Dr. Feelgood the most successful Crüe album to date. After another worldwide tour, the compilation album Decade of Decadence arrived in 1991, propelled to multi-platinum status by a new version of "Home Sweet Home" that became the band's final Top 40 hit. After creating their own record label, Mötley Records, the bandmates signed a renewed contract with Elektra for $25 million.

The music industry had begun to devote most of its attention to grunge music, however, and the pressure to keep pace with changing trends took its toll on the band's camaraderie. In 1992, sessions for Mötley Crüe's next album turned ugly, leading to the dismissal (or departure, depending on the source) of Neil, who was replaced by the Scream's John Corabi. The revised band issued Mötley Crüe in 1994, which peaked at number seven in the U.S. and eventually went gold. Such an attempt to embrace a new, grungier sound proved to be a commercial disappointment, however, as did the band's supporting tour. Corabi was fired in 1997 at the label's behest, and Neil returned to the lineup for the release of Generation Swine. The subject of a heavy marketing campaign, Generation Swine debuted at number four, although it failed to generate any significant singles. Meanwhile, Corabi resurfaced alongside former Kiss guitarist Bruce Kulick in the group Union. Shortly after the release of Greatest Hits in 1998, Tommy Lee was arrested for spousal abuse against Pamela Anderson.

He spent most of the year in jail, effectively killing any momentum generated by the gold-selling status of Greatest Hits and Generation Swine. Meanwhile, the group's contract with Elektra fell apart, prompting Mötley Records to switch its affiliation to the Beyond label. The band acquired the rights to its back catalog in the process. After numerous bitter encounters with Neil, Tommy Lee left the band in 1999 to form Methods of Mayhem, which released a self-titled debut album later that year. He was replaced by former Ozzy Osbourne drummer Randy Castillo, and the revamped lineup celebrated its acquisition of the Crüe catalog by issuing remastered editions of every studio album, as well as the rarities collection Supersonic & the Demonic Relics. A collection of new material, New Tattoo, appeared in the summer of 2000 to a lukewarm reception, and Castillo became stricken with an undisclosed illness on the eve of the requisite tour. While he recuperated at home, the band temporarily enlisted Hole's drummer (and lifelong Crüe fan), Samantha Maloney, to handle percussion duties. In May 2001, the band issued a best-selling, tell-all biography entitled The Dirt.

During the downtime that followed its release, Neil launched a brief solo tour of U.S. clubs and Sixx wrote material for other artists, including Tantric, Meat Loaf, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, and James Michael. Sadly, Castillo succumbed to cancer during the following spring, prompting the band to continue its hiatus. Although Sixx speculated publicly about the possibility of a reunion tour, Tommy Lee quickly rebutted such rumors, claiming that his relationship with Vince Neil was simply too poor for any sort of reconciliation. Controversy surrounded the band again as former producer Tom Werman sued for unpaid royalties, Neil's former wife Heidi Mark publicly accused him of physical abuse, and Neil was kicked off a nationally syndicated radio show for being too drunk to maintain an interview. Rumors of a reunion continued to swirl throughout the following two years, even as Mötley Crüe's members remained loyal to their individual projects. Both Tommy Lee and Vince Neil participated in celebrity TV shows -- Lee as the focus of an NBC series that featured the drummer attending college classes, and Neil in the first season of The Surreal Life -- while Sixx toured and released an album with his new band, Brides of Destruction.

In late 2004, however, the four original members announced a full-scale reunion tour for the following year, marking their first outing since the late '90s. The tour coincided with the February release of Mötley Crüe's double-disc greatest-hits collection, Red, White & Crüe, which went platinum within six months of its release. The reunion tour was further celebrated by the release of a concert album, Carnival of Sins Live, in 2006, while a record of new material, Saints of Los Angeles, arrived in 2008. In keeping with their dedication to the road, the bandmates subsequently unveiled plans for Crüe Fest, a summer package tour that netted over $40 million during its inaugural year. After a second Crüe Fest in 2009, a world tour co-headlining with Kiss followed in 2012 and lasted through 2013. In 2014 the band announced a farewell tour with Alice Cooper as guest.

The 70-date retirement tour coincided with the release of Nashville Outlaws, a Crüe tribute album featuring country artists like Rascal Flatts, the Mavericks, and Big & Rich. ~ Andrew Leahey & Barry Weber, Rovi

Question: Tommy Lee, who was formerly married to Pamela Anderson, was the drummer in which successful 1980s heavy metal band?
Answer: Motley Crue